AIBU to object to a large co-living dwvelopment near my home?

[Mathsdebator]

I live in the North East. The local paper published an article yesterday about someone applying to turn a shop near me into a "large co-living development' with 18 rooms and communal area. Aimed at young professionals apparently and they're denying it's a HMO.

It's obviously a HMO

There's no parking. The space is small. It's 3 minutes walk from a primary school. I've looked up the developers - they're based in London.

Would you object?

Maybe try to find out more about the landlord. if it’s a provate landlord, they likely will not be willing to just take anyone. In the end a private landlord, is going to want people who pay the rent and look after the property…. So they are not going to want drug dealers, people with criminal records or students. Hence the ‘professionals’ thing.

People who are dismissing this saying their experience of this in Bristol, London etc has been amazing. People saying their experience is it will fill with teachers, nurses etc. You are deluded.

Attitudes like that are why areas like Sunderland feel ignored, and in my opinion why they voted Brexit/like Farage. You are just so distant to the reality. No. Teachers, nurses etc will not be living in these. Have you any idea what a 4 bed detached on a nice estate costs near Sunderland? They will live or rent in one of those.

And I’m not saying OP voted Brexit or likes Farage, just that when people ask why the NE voted for Brexit, why did they fall for the lies. Well, you are no better, you are lying to her. Promises it will be fine. Promises that they will be professionals and cause no bother. You are lying just as much as the Brexit and Farage lot.

I say this as a leftie, anti Brexit, Farage hating liberal from a leafy suburb of Newcastle.

I’m laughing at the idea a “professional “ earns more than a plumber.

Sounds more like that people of the wrong colour might move in.

"Professional" just means anybody with a job in estate agent speak.

As to who....has the housing crisis for young people largely gone over your head?

Your objection seems a bit dog- in-the-mangerish to me, with the exception of the parking concern, which I 'd say is valid.

Pile of shite. The ASBO kings round here are every colour of the rainbow.

The lad who took a machete to one of our students recently was white. The rapist I mentioned is black. The lad who ran the drug den that got raided last month had bright red hair and pale skin. The lad who robbed the post office was brown.

Nobody cares what colour someone is when they're being attacked

Rents are high relative to wages in many places, presumably this is targeting young people with student debt etc

It might be perfectly reasonable to not include parking if there's good public transport. There are lots of car free developments in London, its an environmental thing and they usually come with a restriction on getting a local parking permit too so you can't clog up local roads parking there instead. Sunderland is a city isn't it?

Nope, you are projecting there, so look at your own prejudices.

Out of interest have you ever been to Sunderland? If you think the worry about drug culture is down to skin colour you’d have a point but not the one you think you are making. Drug issues in Sunderland are statically far more prevalent in white british population. Are you so removed from reality that you assume it must be racism and not a genuine fear of the prevalent drug culture there?

We are a city (got in under the radar one year - my husband is a Geordie and reminds me of this 🤣)

This 2 bed flat is 10 minutes walk away. I really, really don't think young professionals would choose to live in a compact room when 2 could share this so cheaply

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/171558683#/?channel=STU_LET

Is there a housing crisis in somewhere like Sunderland? Have you looked at the availability of properties, both rentals and to purchase?

Everyone hates NIMBYs until it's their own BY....
I get what you are talkimg about OP. We had couple of HMOs popped up where we used to live years ago and luckily we rented so moved out when it went all wrong. There is a reason, actually quite a few, councils now limit the numbers in areas.

The young professionals co living sounds great, but you have no guarantee it will be that.

I think you are being slightly snobby op about what constitutes a "young professional". I've found the development you're talking about.

This is low cost housing, for young people with jobs, probably first rung on the ladder. They might be working in retail or care, or training on the job. Why shouldn't low cost housing be a choice? There's public transport close by. With low rents young people could also have a better chance to save.

Where do you think poorer people should live?

That flat is posted would be 325 a month each for 2 sharing. A whole flat, on the marina!

This place isn't going to be cheaper surely? Whixh means they won't attract young professionals. They'll attract shit humans who treat the area in a shit way

I’m going to guess you don’t think they should live in an HMO in your street?

I mean what else do you think a building like that will be used for ? Its on a busy main road overlooking a retail park, its not exactly a desirable location.

I live in a village with poor public transport, no amenities and no jobs. I don't think its an ideal place, no. I used to live in a city in an inexpensive area and there were lots of HMOs, loads of people lived in shared houses.

The main reason people choose cheaper housing is to save money. If you are 22 and have left uni with 50k if debt, and really want to save for a house deposit, a couple of years in shared housing can save a lot.

Didn't anyone on here ever lived in a really cheap shared house as a young person?

I don’t see a problem with it. No car parking spaces is completely standard procedure for new developments where I live, as long as there is decent public transport. There are lots where I live and they are just like any other flat share, but with their own bathrooms.

I do agree with this. If you don’t want to live in an area where HMOs might pop up then don’t live in an area like this. 🤷🏻‍♀️. Purpose built HMOs and converted buildings are good not just for those living in them who need cheap, possibly short term accommodation but it also frees up housing stock for local families. People need to live somewhere.

I've lived in my house for 15 years and in the area all my life!

What sort of prices do you think this is going to be offered for then, given there seems to be a plethora of low cost housing in the area (private) in any case?

Whats different about this, other than its packing them in like sardines in a really small corner.

I think the development is a great use of the site - incredibly well served by public transport and the developer has been proven to do what the scheme says it will - produce good quality self contained studio appartments for key workers and young professionals who need them. The dramatics about Roker Avenue and the actions of a small minority of residents have some foundation but there are many students ( particularly overseas ones) and young professionals who are housed in that area without issues. I walked down that street at around 10pm lastnight and had zero issues

Yep as a student in the area being discussed and subsequently as a graduate - there are quite a few similar developments in the immediate area that are rented by overseas students so the business model is proven to work

Oh and these are the crime rates for the area where the machete attack took place :

TOTAL CRIME RATE
38.3 per 1,000 4/10 · Low
All offences · Jan 2025 - Dec 2025
VIOLENT CRIME RATE
16.0 per 1,000 3/10 · Low
Jan 2025 - Dec 2025